Development in a Floodplain

All development in the City of Hoover requires a permit from the Inspection Services Department regardless of whether it is located in a floodplain or not. Development in a floodplain, however, is required to comply with Article III. Flood Damage Prevention of the Hoover City Code. The building official is appointed to administer and implement the provisions of the article.

An application for development in a floodplain must be submitted to the building official for review. The application must include, in addition to standard construction drawings, etc., elevations in relation to mean sea level of the proposed lowest floor (including basement) of all structures and/or elevations in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be flood-proofed. Additionally, a certificate from a registered professional engineer or architect that the nonresidential flood-proofed structure will meet flood-proofing criteria in the article is required, as well as a description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development.

Construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas

In all special flood hazard areas construction must comply with the following specific standards.

Residential Construction

New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than two feet above the highest base flood elevation. Should solid foundation perimeter walls be used to elevate a structure, openings sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded movements of flood waters shall be provided in accordance with standards within the article.

Nonresidential Construction

New construction or substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial, or nonresidential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than two feet above the level of the highest base flood elevation. Structures located in all A zones may be flood-proofed in lieu of being elevated provided that all areas of the structure below the required elevation are watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water, and use structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and the effects of buoyancy. A registered professional engineer or architect shall certify that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certification shall be provided to the building official.

Permit Requirements

A permit must also be obtained and the Flood Damage Prevention ordinance complied with for Substantial Improvements to a structure in a floodplain. Substantial Improvement means any combination of repairs, reconstruction, alteration, or improvements to a structure, taking place during the life of the structure, in which the cumulative cost equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure. Substantial Improvement is considered to occur when the first alteration of any walls, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure.

More Information

For questions regarding development in a floodplain or to report development in a floodplain please contact the City of Hoover Building Inspections Director at 205-444-7597. For information regarding flood zones contact Hoover Inspection Services, at 205-444-7566.